Sen. Bill Cassidy

Maddy summaryS 2063, the BOONDOGGLE Act, limits travel allowances for military members seeking professional development training. It requires that such training directly relate to a member's military job and prohibits funding for activities related to sexual orientation or that promote superiority based on sex, race, or religion. The bill amends U.S. Code Section 453 to add these specific restrictions on travel allowances. It directly affects uniformed service members who use government funds for training outside their regular duties. The key change is restricting travel funding to job-related training only, banning support for certain identity-focused or discriminatory activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds multi-cancer early detection screening tests to Medicare Part B coverage, directly affecting Medicare beneficiaries. It creates a new coverage category for FDA-approved blood tests (like those analyzing cell-free DNA) that screen for multiple cancer types simultaneously, as defined in the bill. Medicare would cover these tests once every 12 months, and the bill clarifies that this change does not impact existing coverage for standard cancer screenings like mammograms or colonoscopies. The policy change ensures beneficiaries can access these new screening options without unnecessary delays after FDA approval.

Maddy summaryThe Expediting Natural Gas Exports to Allies Act of 2023 creates a faster approval process for U.S. natural gas exports to specific allied nations, including Ukraine, Taiwan, and others (Cyprus, Moldova, Sweden) from 2023 through 2030 (or longer if the President extends it for national security reasons). It requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to expedite approvals for exports to these "covered nations," defined as allies under U.S. law or added during the specified period. However, FERC cannot expedite approvals for nations under U.S. sanctions or those explicitly excluded by Congress for security reasons. The bill does not change existing export authorizations but streamlines reviews for designated allies to support U.S. energy security and economic goals.

Maddy summaryThe CONNECT for Health Act of 2023 expands Medicare telehealth coverage by removing geographic restrictions, allowing services to be provided from home and other locations, and expanding who can offer telehealth services. The bill repeals the six-month in-person visit requirement for telemental health and allows telehealth use in hospice care recertification. It also includes program integrity measures to address inappropriate billing patterns and requires posting of telehealth service data to improve transparency. This legislation directly affects Medicare beneficiaries, healthcare providers, and telehealth technology vendors by making telehealth more accessible, particularly for rural and underserved populations, those with mobility challenges, and individuals in areas with healthcare workforce shortages.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates June 16, 2023, as National Service and Conservation Corps Day to recognize the work of over 150 Service and Conservation Corps organizations across the U.S. These groups directly support approximately 22,000 young adults (ages 18-30) and post-9/11 veterans annually through conservation projects, workforce development, and educational opportunities. The resolution symbolically honors their contributions to community improvement, public land conservation, disaster response, and climate resilience without creating new policies or funding. It is a ceremonial designation, not a legislative act with binding requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets new annual and aggregate limits for federal unsubsidized student loans for graduate and professional students, effective July 1, 2024. It increases annual loan limits to $20,500 for regular graduate students and $40,500 for professional students (like law or medical students), with total lifetime limits of $65,000 and $130,000 respectively (including undergraduate borrowing). The bill also ends eligibility for Federal Direct PLUS loans for graduate and professional students starting July 1, 2024, with institutions required to notify students of this change by July 30, 2024. Existing borrowers who received loans before July 1, 2024, may continue using prior limits for the 2024-2025 academic year if they haven’t graduated.

De Minimis Reciprocity Act of 2023 This bill makes various changes to  de minimis treatment of U.S. imports. (Current law allows for imports under a de minimis threshold to enter the United States free of tariffs and taxes with minimal inspection. In 2016, Congress raised this threshold from $200 to $800.) Specifically, the Department of the Treasury must prescribe regulations to establish dollar amount thresholds (which may not exceed $800) for de minimis entries. Treasury must establish a threshold for each country that takes into consideration (1) the dollar amount threshold of that country for de minimis entries from the United States; and (2) any related thresholds of that country, such as a threshold relating to a value-added tax on imports. The bill establishes in the Treasury the Re-shoring and Near-shoring Account. Amounts in this account must be available for facilitating the movement of manufacturing from China to the United States. Treasury must annually publish a list of countries that are not eligible for de minimis treatment. Treasury must establish the conditions for including a country on this list, with specified considerations. Further, the bill requires China and Russia to be included on this list. The bill requires that imports eligible for de minimis treatment must be transported into the United States by a contract carrier. The contract carrier must (1) collect additional data related to these imports, and (2) collect duties and taxes owed on these imports and remit those duties and taxes to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires colleges to provide student borrowers with clearer financial information before they accept federal loans. It mandates that students manually enter their desired loan amount each year (instead of automatically accepting full eligibility) and receive specific disclosures, including sample repayment costs based on median debt and earnings data from the College Scorecard. Institutions must also explain that borrowers aren't required to take the full loan amount offered and provide details on completion rates, repayment statistics, and the loan's annual percentage rate. These changes apply to all undergraduate and graduate students receiving Federal Direct Loans, as well as parent borrowers for PLUS Loans.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new "Revised Pay As You Earn" (REPAYE) student loan repayment plan, effective July 1, 2024, which automatically enrolls borrowers 75 days past due. It adjusts loan forgiveness timelines based on total borrowed amount (e.g., 120 payments for $10,000 or less) and expands qualifying payments to include certain deferments for cancer treatment, military service, and unemployment. The bill also requires colleges to certify that undergraduate and graduate programs meet minimum earnings standards (comparing program graduates' median earnings to those with equivalent degrees), with institutions facing penalties if programs fail this test. These changes directly affect student loan borrowers and educational institutions offering federally funded programs.

Maddy summaryThe Lowering Education Costs and Debt Act establishes a national data system to track college costs, student outcomes, and graduate earnings, requiring institutions to collect standardized data on enrollment, costs, and post-graduation results. It mandates that colleges provide students with clear, standardized financial aid offers showing full costs, grants, scholarships, and loan details in plain language, with specific requirements for loan amounts and repayment terms. The bill reforms student loan repayment with a new "Revised Pay As You Earn" plan, phases out income-based repayment, and sets new borrowing limits for graduate students. It also prevents federal funding for programs where graduates earn less than those with only a high school diploma (for associate programs) or bachelor's degree (for bachelor's programs). The bill affects all institutions receiving federal financial aid and their students, with implementation beginning 4 years after enactment.